MLB Player News
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C.J. Abrams SS | WAS
Nationals' CJ Abrams: Swipes fourth bag
Abrams went 1-for-4 with a walk, two runs scored and a stolen base in Sunday's win over the Astros.
The shortstop extended his hitting streak to eight games with the performance, but the steal was his first since March 30, snapping a 16-game drought on the basepaths. Abrams has hardly been a disappointment so far in 2024, slashing .297/.358/.676 with six homers, four steals, 12 RBI and 15 runs in 18 contests, but after he pilfered 47 bags last year in his first full big-league season, fantasy GMs who invested in him are likely expecting the 23-year-old to be a bit busier as a baserunner.
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Ha-seong Kim SS | SD
Padres' Ha-Seong Kim: Two steals Sunday
Kim went 0-for-2 with two walks, two steals and two runs in Sunday's win over the Blue Jays.
Kim drew walks in the sixth and ninth innings. He stole second and third in the ninth before ultimately coming in to score on a bases-loaded walk from Nate Pearson. Sunday ended a five-game hit streak for Kim, who is now hitting .226/347/.417 with three homers, 13 RBI, 14 runs, six steals and a 16:16 BB:K in 102 plate appearances.
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Kevin Newman SS | ARI
Diamondbacks' Kevin Newman: Fills in at shortstop
Newman entered Sunday's 5-3 win over the Giants to play shortstop after Blaze Alexander (hamstring) was removed. Newman went 1-for-2 with a double and RBI.
Newman, who replaced Alexander to start the bottom of the fifth inning, doubled home what turned out to be the winning run in the top of the ninth. Alexander's injury was described as a cramp, per Steve Gilbert of MLB.com, which doesn't sound too serious The Diamondbacks are limited at shortstop after designating Jace Peterson, leaving Newman or possibly Ketel Marte to fill in if Alexander's unable to play Monday in St. Louis.
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Ezequiel Tovar SS | COL
Rockies' Ezequiel Tovar: Three hits in Game 1
Tovar went 3-for-5 with an RBI in Colorado's 2-1 extra-inning win over the Mariners in Game 1 of Sunday's doubleheader.
Tovar notched the Rockies' first hit of the game in the bottom of the first inning before later adding two more base knocks, including an RBI single in the bottom of the 10th frame, knotting the game up at 1-1. The 22-year-old has now notched two three-hit performances over the last three contests, while Sunday's matinee was his eighth multi-hit outcome on the year. Tovar is batting .321 with three homers, 11 RBI, nine runs scored and two stolen bases over 81 at-bats in 21 games this season.
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Blaze Alexander SS | ARI
Diamondbacks' Blaze Alexander: Dealing with hamstring cramp
Alexander left Sunday's contest versus the Giants early due to a right hamstring cramp, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.
Alexander left the game in the bottom of the fifth inning, but it appears like he avoided a serious injury. The 24-year-old can be considered day-to-day for the time being ahead the team's three-game series in St. Louis beginning Monday.
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Blaze Alexander SS | ARI
Diamondbacks' Blaze Alexander: Exits early Sunday
Alexander (undisclosed) exited Sunday's matchup with the Giants in the bottom of the fifth inning, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
Alexander was replaced at shortstop in the bottom of the fifth frame, exiting the game after going 0-for-2 from the plate Sunday. It's unclear why the 24-year-old was removed from the contest and more information will likely be provided in the near future. Kevin Newman replaced Alexander at shortstop, batting ninth against San Francisco.
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Elly De La Cruz SS | CIN
Reds' Elly De La Cruz: Draws career-high four walks
De La Cruz walked in all four of his plate appearances Saturday in a win over the Angels. He recorded an RBI and a run scored.
A day after De La Cruz showed off his electric tools with a homer and three steals, he showcased his improving eye at the dish. The shortstop set a career high in walks, though he was also caught stealing for the third time this season. Nonetheless, De La Cruz seems to be closing the holes in his game while flashing No. 1 overall fantasy upside. He's up to a 1.033 OPS with six homers and 10 steals through 20 games this season.
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Oneil Cruz SS | PIT
Pirates' Oneil Cruz: Slips down order
Cruz went 0-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base Saturday against the Red Sox.
Cruz also struck out twice, and he has now punched out multiple times in eight of his last 10 starts. He's hit .095 in that span, though he did manage to chip his second stolen base of the season Saturday. As a result of his struggles, Cruz dropped to eighth in the lineup after exclusively batting as the team's leadoff hitter against right-handed pitching through the first 11 matchups of the campaign.
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C.J. Abrams SS | WAS
Nationals' CJ Abrams: Goes yard again Saturday
Abrams went 2-for-5 with a double, a solo home run and a second run scored in Saturday's 5-4 extra-inning win over the Astros.
The shortstop led off the bottom of the first inning by launching Ronel Blanco's first pitch of the afternoon over the fence in right field. Abrams is up to six homers on the season, including three in the last five contests, and Saturday's performance extended his hitting streak to seven games -- a stretch in which he's batting .345 (10-for-29) with a stunning .931 SLG, as nine of the hits (four doubles, two triples, three home runs) have gone for extra bases.
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Mookie Betts SS | LAD
Dodgers' Mookie Betts: Swipes two bags in loss
Betts went 1-for-2 with three walks, a double, a run scored and two stolen bases in Saturday's 6-4 loss to the Mets.
The 31-year-old was excellent once again out of the leadoff spot, but the rest of the Dodgers' order had trouble bringing him around to score. Betts has failed to get on base only twice in 23 games to begin the season, and he boasts a .356/.473/.644 slash line with six homers, five steals, 18 RBI and an MLB-leading 23 runs.